Fuel delivery system for combusting fuel mixtures
AssigneeSupercritical Combusion Corporation
InventorsBrian S. Ahern, Charles W. Haldeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for reducing the total pressure of a compressible fluid fuel. The apparatus includes at least two closely spaced apart constant enthalpy expansion sections, each section having at least one orifice, the orifices in adjacent sections being noncoaxial. The pressure reduction lowers flow velocity when mixed with the air to below the flame speed to promote ignition and stable combustion.
Claims24
Fuel delivery system comprising:
- a source of a mixture of water and hydrocarbon fuel, the mixture being at or above the mixture critical point such that the mixture is a homogeneous single phase;
- apparatus for rapidly reducing the total pressure of the mixture;
- and
- delivery apparatus for introducing the reduced pressure mixture into a combustion chamber.
Apparatus for reducing the pressure of compressible fluid fuel-water mixture comprising;
- three closely spaced apart constant enthalpy expansion sections for receiving the mixture;
- a first of said sections including a single orifice located on a central axis of the section;
- a second of said sections including three orifices located off the central axis;
- and
- a third of said sections including three or more orifices arranged on a substantially spherical surface and angularly offset with respect to the orifices in the second section, the combined area of the orifices in the third section being 2 to 4 times the combined area of the orifices in the second section.
Combustion process comprising:
- forming a water/hydrocarbon fuel mixture, the mixture at or above its critical point such that the mixture is a homogeneous single phase;
- rapidly reducing the total pressure of the mixture;
- and
- delivering the reduced pressure mixture into a combustion chamber.
Fuel delivery system comprising:
- a source of a mixture of water and hydrocarbon fuel, said mixture characterized by a critical pressure, the mixture being at a pressure that is above about 10 atmospheres and below the critical pressure of the mixture and being at a temperature that is at least the greater of about 250° C. and the boiling point temperature of water at the mixture pressure,
- apparatus for rapidly reducing the total pressure of the mixture;
- and
- delivery apparatus for introducing the reduced pressure mixture into a combustion chamber.
Combustion process comprising:
- forming a subcritical water/hydrocarbon mixture characterized by a critical pressure, the mixture being at a pressure that is above about 10 atmospheres and below the critical pressure of the mixture and being at a temperature that is at least the greater of about 250° C. and the boiling point temperature of water at the mixture pressure;
- rapidly reducing the total pressure of the mixture;
- and
- delivering the reduced pressure mixture into a combustion chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.